State comes to rescue of thirsty Baringo schools

Residents of Tiaty, Baringo county draw water from bowsers after Principal Secretary Fred Segor. Photo/JUDY KEMEI

Judith Kemei @PeopleDailyKe

The national government, through the Ministry of Water, at the weekend launched a water supply programme to public learning institutions in drought-stricken areas of Baringo county.

Affected areas include Tiaty, parts of Baringo South and Baringo North constituencies. Thousands of pastoralist families with approximately 10,000 livestock are facing an acute shortage of water and pasture in the county. Schools also risk closure after seasonal streams they have been relying on for water dried up. The little water the pupils can access is mostly contaminated and could cause diseases.

Water scarcity has forced most schools to suspend lessons until 11am to allow pupils to search for the precious commodity in drying rivers. Some learners have stopped going to school altogether to search for water.

While flagging off water bowsers at Cheptunoiwo in Tiaty, Water Principal Secretary Fred Segor said the government had intervened in the situation which is threatening to disrupt learning in affected areas.

Segor said all public learning institutions in the area will receive water at least once a week to reduce the suffering of school children and allow them to concentrate in learning.

Major projects He added that the mis in the process of rolling out major projects to ensure water is available to all Kenyans. “The government is planning to construct major water dams across the country to mitigate water shortage,” said Segor, adding that the government will do everything possible to ensure no lives are lost because of the prolonged drought.

The PS said the government had put adequate structures in place to contain the situation until the start of the long rains expected in March according to the Kenya Metrological Department.